Career and Education Opportunities for Surgical Technicians in Denver, Colorado

Surgical technician career and educational opportunities abound in Denver, Colorado. There are currently 1,380 working surgical technicians in Colorado; this should grow by 37% to about 1,900 working surgical technicians in the state by 2016. This is better than the national trend for surgical technicians, which sees this job pool growing by about 25.3% over the next eight years. Surgical technicians generally assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel.

A person working as a surgical technician can expect to earn about $20 per hour or $43,160 annually on average in Colorado and about $18 hourly or $38,740 yearly on average in the U.S. as a whole. Surgical technicians earn less than people working in the category of Healthcare Technical generally in Colorado and less than people in the Healthcare Technical category nationally. Jobs in this field include: surgery technician , operating room surgical technician , and endoscopic technologist.

The Denver area is home to sixty-four schools of higher education, including four within twenty-five miles of Denver where you can get a degree as a surgical technician. Surgical technicians usually hold a post-secondary certificate, so you can expect to spend a short time studying to be a surgical technician if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Surgical Technician

Surgical Technician video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, surgical technicians assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. They also may help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon's assistants, hold retractors, and help count sponges, needles, and instruments.

Surgical technicians furnish technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses and anesthesiologists. They also hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeons during operations. Equally important, surgical technicians have to scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves and surgical clothing. They are often called upon to ready dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery. They are expected to operate or monitor sterilizers, lights and diagnostic apparatus to insure proper operation. Finally, surgical technicians monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.

Every day, surgical technicians are expected to be able to see details at a very fine level of focus. They need to articulate ideas and problems. It is also important that they listen to and understand others in meetings.

It is important for surgical technicians to maintain proper sterile environments during surgical procedures. They are often called upon to maintain supply of fluids. They also order surgical supplies. They are sometimes expected to maintain files and records of surgical procedures. Somewhat less frequently, surgical technicians are also expected to observe patients' vital signs to gauge physical condition.

Surgical technicians sometimes are asked to count sponges and instruments before and after operations. And finally, they sometimes have to monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.

Like many other jobs, surgical technicians must be thorough and dependable and be reliable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Denver include:

Dental Hygienist. Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop X-rays, or apply fluoride or sealants.

Radiation Therapist. Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.

Radiological Technician. Maintain and use equipment and supplies necessary to demonstrate portions of the human body on x-ray film or fluoroscopic screen for diagnostic purposes.

Sonographer. Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Surgical Technician Training

Colorado Technical University - Greenwood Village, CO

Colorado Technical University, 5775 Denver Tech Ctr Blvd, Greenwood Village, CO 80111-3201. Colorado Technical University is a small university located in Greenwood Village, Colorado. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 1,010 students. Colorado Technical University has an associate's degree program in Surgical Technology/Technologist which graduated five students in 2008.

Everest College-Thornton - Thornton, CO

Everest College-Thornton, 9065 Grant St, Thornton, CO 80229. Everest College-Thornton is a small college located in Thornton, Colorado. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs. It has 714 students and an admission rate of 30%. Everest College-Thornton has an associate's degree program in Surgical Technology/Technologist which graduated seventeen students in 2008.

Anthem College-Denver - Aurora, CO

Anthem College-Denver, 350 Blackhawk Street, Aurora, CO 80011. Anthem College-Denver is a small college located in Aurora, Colorado. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs and has 405 students. Anthem College-Denver has a one to two year and an associate's degree program in Surgical Technology/Technologist which graduated four and thirty students respectively in 2008.

Concorde Career Colleges - Aurora, CO

Concorde Career Colleges, 111 N. Havana Street, Aurora, CO 80010-4314. Concorde Career Colleges is a small college located in Aurora, Colorado. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs. It has 686 students and an admission rate of 100%. Concorde Career Colleges has a one to two year program in Surgical Technology/Technologist which graduated twenty-seven students in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor:
The CBSPD is committed to the certification of healthcare sterile processing and distribution personnel regardless of their workplace setting.

Certified Surgical Technologist:
The choice to become certified demonstrates pride in the profession and a desire to be recognized for mastery of skills unique to surgical technology, as well as an on-going commitment to quality patient care.

Certified First Assistant:
The choice to become certified demonstrates pride in the profession and a desire to be recognized for mastery of skills unique to surgical technology, as well as an on-going commitment to quality patient care.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado photo by David Shankbone

Denver is located in Denver County, Colorado. It has a population of over 598,707, which has grown by 7.9% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Denver, 102, is near the national average. New single-family homes in Denver are priced at $223,800 on average, which is below the state average. In 2008, eight hundred thirty-seven new homes were constructed in Denver, down from 1,215 the previous year.

The top three industries for women in Denver are health care, educational services, and professional, scientific, and technical services. For men, it is construction, professional, scientific, and technical services, and accommodation and food services. The average travel time to work is about 25 minutes. More than 34.5% of Denver residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 12.4%, is higher than the state average.

The percentage of Denver residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 53.0%, is more than both the national and state average. The most prominent religious groups are the Catholic Church, the American Baptist Churches in the USA and the Episcopal Church.

Denver is home to the J F Kennedy Municipal Golf Course and the North Marston Filtration Plant as well as Cheesman Park and Bear Creek Park. Shopping malls in the area include Alameda Square Shopping Center, Boulevard Shopping Center and Brentwood Plaza Shopping Center. Visitors to Denver can choose from Embassy Suites Hotel Denver Downtown, Intown Suites Aurora and Denver Marriott City Center for temporary stays in the area.